With just days before her scheduled appearance, Diana Ross announced she will cancel her appearance on Star of the Seas as its godmother.

According People, the legendary singer and movie star said she has changed her plans.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, Diana Ross will be unable to appear," a representative for the singer said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean had previously announced Ms. Ross as Godmother to Star of the Seas in June. This is an honorary position meant to bestow good fortune on the ship.

A cruise line representative confirmed the change, "We are disappointed that Diana Ross is unable to join us to be godmother of Star of the Seas.

"We look forward to announcing our new godmother soon." 

Ms. Ross was scheduled to appear on August 20 to perform her duties in the ceremonial role for Star of the Seas.

At the time, she shared her adulation for being picked, "I am truly honored to join the Royal Caribbean family."

"Having spent years of creating beautiful music and memories and bringing people together from all over the world, this feels like a perfect continuation of my journey as godmother of Star of the Seas."

Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, measuring over 248,000 gross registered tons. 

Star comes in at 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide and can accommodate 5,610 guests at double occupancy across 2,805 staterooms. At maximum capacity, she can carry over 7,000 passengers. She also has 2,350 crew members onboard.

Star's maiden voyage is scheduled for August 31, 2025, but construction moved quicker than expected. As such, Star will embark on a series of short preview cruises ahead of the official maiden voyage. The first of these will take place from August 16-20, 2025. 

Why did she cancel

The question of why the Diana Ross is pulling out of the deal is a mystery.

She had just completed a U.K. arena tour in July, and is set to start her Beautiful Love tour in the U.S. on August 16 in California.

People quoted Ms. Ross talking about taking care of herself as a top priority, "Health and well-being. And my family is everything to me. I like staying busy. Because I love what I do, it keeps me grounded. I’m swimming a lot lately to stay flexible. I must get my sleep which is important to me. I do my best to eat well, but I do like Häagen-Dazs ice cream."

No further information from the cruise line or Diana Ross has been shared as to why the change is occurring.

I found a way to combine two of the included restaurants on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas to create my new favorite cruise snack.

While aboard the newest Royal Caribbean ship, I was given an idea by one of our writers to try a food hack out to see if it was as good as it sounded.

There are two restaurants on the pool deck of an Icon Class cruise ship within steps of each other: Basecamp and El Loco Fresh.

On their own, there is tasty food at each, but what if we took something from both to create a super snack?

In the name of research, I decided to give it a try.

Mexican loaded tater tots

The idea was simple: grab a basket full of freshly made tater tots at Basecamp, and then top them off.

I went to Basecamp, which is located in the Thrill Island area of the ship. 

This restaurant has grab-and-go quick service food for anyone that's busy enjoying all the fun of the Category 6 waterpark, mini golf, sports court, or Flowrider.

Originally some of the menu items here cost money, but Royal Caribbean changed it to be completely included later.

I ordered tater tots, and asked for enough to essentially create a base at the bottom of the basket.

I then took a short walk out of Basecamp, past the rock climbing wall, and down the stairs to El Loco Fresh.

El Loco Fresh is another included restaurant that has Mexican food for a quick meal.

I bypassed all the tacos, burritos, and quesadillas on the buffet and instead went to the toppings bar.

The genius of this hack is I topped the tater tots off with anything from here that I liked.

I went with salsa, hot sauce, guacamole, and jalapenos.  As you can tell, I like a kick to my food.

I was a bit concerned about making the tots too soggy, but eating them quickly, it was amazing how much better the tots tasted.

No matter which toppings you choose, it really takes the monotony of plain fried potatoes to offer a terrific flavor combination.

I probably could have just added hot sauce and been good, but I really liked how the the taco toppings elevated it all together.

Without a doubt, you want to grab the tater tots down as soon as you can.  The warmer they are, the better it all tastes.

My dessert hack

I felt so good about my food hack experimented, I had to go and try my other favorite cruise pool deck food hack.

This idea is simple, but it's so much better!

Grab a plastic water cup at El Loco Fresh, and then walk across Chill Island to Sprinkles.

At Sprinkles, you can enjoy soft serve ice cream.  Usually, it's served in a small sugar cone.

The problem with the cone is it's a small serving, and it all melts so quickly.

Hand them the cup and you get a less messy, yet significantly bigger ice cream serving.

If you really want something fun, take your cup of ice cream back to El Loco Fresh and get a shot of rum to pour into the cup at the Cantina!

Either way, dessert is better when it's not messy and there's plenty of it!

Parents will have an easier way to keep tabs on their kids' location while on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean is offering parents a tracking feature within its app on its new ship.

The "Find My Kid" feature is an optional add-on for parents to use, and it's exclusively available on Star of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean previously tested it on Icon of the Seas last summer. According to the cruise line website, it's only available on Star.

How it works

After registering a child at the kids club onboard, parents can purchase a special Adventure Ocean WOW Band.

The device is a waterproof bracelet that allows parents to track the bracelet's location via the Royal Caribbean app.

The band costs $14.99.

After that, parents just need to activate the Find My Kid feature in the app.

Parents can tap the Find My Kid icon in the app menu.

Royal Caribbean says it's for kids between 3 and 12 years old, and allows you to see the location of your kids onboard in some areas of the ship, like certain public areas and staterooms, through the app’s deck maps. 

Parents can choose which other passengers can track the kids, such as parents, older siblings, or friends and family can opt into it as well.

Better tracking

Tracking within a cruise ship is a helpful idea.

Unlike Apple Airtags, Find My Kid seems to have the ability to better geolocate itself across decks of the ship and within certain venues. 

Moreover, Find My Kid integrates into the Royal Caribbean app.

The device isn't a replacement for parenting. Rather, it's peace of mind for parents to have another way to keep tabs on where their children are onboard.

Not only does it make it easier to know where kids are, but it potentially could reduce the chances of a lost child situation later.

Available only on Star of the Seas

As of now, it's only available on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Star of the Seas.

While the feature was originally tested on Icon of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean website only mentions Star as the ship offering it.

Star of the Seas is days away from welcoming passengers onboard.

The new ship will be one of the biggest ships in the world when it launches, capable of carrying 7,600 guests at maximum capacity.

Royal Caribbean designed Star to be the follow-up to the very successful Icon of the Seas, and both ships offer the ultimate family cruising experience.

The ship has an entire waterpark, a park, a neighborhood dedicated to families, and much more.

The official first sailing begins August 31, although there are four showcase sailings that precede it.

It's hard to believe that a beloved film that was once rejected by Disney has made its way to the high seas. 

Royal Caribbean is bringing the musical version of the 1985 Back to the Future film to its cruise ship. Today, it's a cultural phenomenon, but it almost never happened.

Speaking onboard Star of the Seas, co-writer Bob Gale shared the story of the movie was pitched to movie executives.

The pitch was turned down over 40 times, with studios claiming that the story was too lighthearted for such a serious sci-fi premise. 

Even after the seemingly constant rejection, Oscar-winning director Robert Zemeckis and co-writer Bob Gale decided to take the pitch to Disney, where they received perhaps the harshest criticism of all. 

"Think they would make a movie about incest? You've got the kid and his mom in a car. Get out of here!" Gale recalled during a panel aboard Star of the Seas, the first-ever cruise ship to bring Back to the Future: The Musical to life at sea. 

It wasn't until Zemeckis worked on the 1984 hit movie Romancing the Stone that revisiting Back to the Future became possible. 

"Everybody in town did want to be in business with [Zemeckis]," Gale said, "And they said, 'Bob, what movie do you want to make?'... And all this time, there was one guy who always liked the script. His name was Steven Spielberg." 

Spielberg was already a powerhouse in Hollywood and had previously worked with Gale three times on the films I Want to Hold Your Hand (1978), 1941 (1979), and Used Cars (1980).  

Initially, Gale was worried that if Back to the Future tanked, he'd never be able to work with Spielberg again. But with the success of Zemeckis's Romancing the Stone, everything changed.

"Steven had just set up Amblin Entertainment on the Universal lot, and we became the first movie to be produced out of Amblin Entertainment. We got set up in 1984. And the rest, as they say, is history," Gale explained. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean will add Back to the Future musical to its next new cruise ship

That history wasn’t made without a few bumps along the road

Even after the film was greenlit, Gale and Zemeckis faced a series of challenges, starting with casting for the lead role of Marty McFly. 

"The president of the studio insisted that we cast Eric Stoltz to play Marty McFly. We could not get Michael J. Fox out of his TV series Family Ties. And so you know, when the president of the corporation tells you [that] you got to do something, you do it."

Still, they realized Stoltz wasn’t the right fit for the role, and they eventually let him go to cast Fox. 

Origins of Back to the Future: The Musical

According to Gale, Zemeckis and his wife saw The Producers on Broadway, which inspired his wife to suggest creating a stage adaptation of Back to the Future.

They had already finished Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III and were adamant about not creating a prequel or spinoffs. As such, Zemeckis and Gale leaned into the idea of a musical adaptation. 

"We thought if we did a theatrical musical that would be a way of giving the public more Back to the Future, but in a way that didn't disturb...the canon of the trilogy," he said. 

First, they called Alan Silvestri, who composed the music for the movies. Then, they reached out to Glen Ballard, a Grammy-winning songwriter who had previously worked with Silvestri on songs for The Polar Express. 

After a few weeks, Silvestri and Ballard came back with some songs, and the team knew they had something great in the works. 

"Now, it took us...four years from when we thought of the idea of doing Back to the Future to when we finally got it made, and ten years after that, all three movies were made," stated Gale. 

Read more: 8 changes coming to Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship (and 1 returning favorite)

Comparatively, ten years after thinking about the musical adaptation, they still didn't have a director. Colin Ingram was the only producer they had met who thought it was a smart idea. 

However, once they got John Rando onboard, everything fell into place, including figuring out how to bring the DeLorean to the stage. 

"So here we are, now on a cruise ship. If the Me of today could travel back in time to August, September 1980, when Bob Zemeckis and I were struggling to write this script and said, 'Do you know guys know where this story is going to go? Do you know where you're going to be in the year 2025? You're going to be on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.' Bob and I would have called security and said, 'We've got a lunatic in our office. Get him the heck out of here,'" he joked. 

Royal Caribbean added its first food hall on Icon of the Seas, but it's gone one step further with it on Star of the Seas.

The second Icon Class cruise ship is very similar to the original, but one of the notable changes are the updates to the Aquadome Market.

This is one of the restaurants included in the cruise fare, and there are five stands that offer a completely different cuisine.

I instantly loved this restaurant the first I ate there, so I was eager to see the changes on Star of the Seas.

As soon as I boarded the ship I made a point to review the changes to Aquadome Market.

Royal Caribbean added 3 new options

From the original five food halls, Royal Caribbean swapped out three of them.

Luckily they kept my two favorites: Feta (Mediterranean) and Creme de la Crepe (crepes). 

However, three others were replaced with new concepts. I tried the food at each to see how they compare.

First up is Mai Thai, and Royal Caribbean offers pad thai or rice, along with two protein choices.

Beef Panang Curry or Grilled Lemongrass Chicken are the options, and I was really torn which one to try. I asked the crew member for her recommendation, and she said to try the chicken.

It's served in a bowl with the pad thai on the bottom, chicken on top, and optional spring roll to top it off.

In trying it, I was pleasantly surprised how much flavor this food had. 

I liked it a lot, and was also happy it was unexpectedly spicy.  As someone that prefers spice in their food, especially Asian food, this was a welcome twist.

The only reason I didn't finish it was because I wanted to leave room for the other food to try. Otherwise, I would have happily devoured it all.

The next food stall over is Pig Out BBQ, an American BBQ spot.

I'm not sure how close the menu is to Portside BBQ on Oasis of the Seas, but I was eager to try it. I think Portside BBQ is vastly underrated as a great place, so I had high hopes for Pig Out.

The choice here is to go with a sandwich or Mac & Cheese bowl. I picked the sandwich option.

The two protein choices are BBQ Brisket or pulled pork, and I'm a sucker for brisket so I went with that.

I got really excited about trying this when we got to the toppings. I love to top almost any food I eat with all sorts of veggies, sauces, or whatever.

I added pickles, onions, and topped it off with some sauce.

As I tried the sandwich, I found the BBQ sauce to be very sweet.  No hint of hotness here.  

I think this is the perfect size for a snack.  Most importantly, the brisket was very soft. That's impressive considering Royal Caribbean can't use a traditional smoker and has to rely on an electric cooking option.

Finally, I got to La Cocinita, which has South American staples like hot empanadas and arepas. There are also Cuban sandwiches available.

I wasn't sure which option to get here, so I did the responsible thing: I ordered both.

I've had plenty of empanadas over the years, and always lamented when they were more pastry than protein.  That wasn't the case here.  

The empanada was "meaty", and not very spicy.  Probably too big for a single bite, but satisfying.

Similar to the BBQ sandwich, I liked there were lots of topping choices for the arepas.

Pickled beets, salsa verde, and pretty much whatever they had, I threw on there. 

To be honest, I don't know if I'm supposed to eat an arepa with my hands or a fork, so I kind of did both.  

I loved the additions, especially the BBQ

I thought Royal Caribbean set a high standard with Aquadome Market on Icon, but the choices on Star are so much better.

I'd rank the food I tried in this order of personal preference:

1. Pad thai
2. BBQ brisket sandwich
3. Empanada
4. Arepa

The real conundrum for me is when I return to eat here without the purposes of a review, what would I order. The falafel and gyro at Feta were always one of my must-eats onboard Icon, so now I have to balance that with these new choices.

Not only is Aquadome Market my favorite included restaurant on any Royal Caribbean ship, I think it's a must-try spot.

Because everything is freshly prepared, it's one step ahead of the buffets or other quick service options.

Moreover, the additions are much stronger choices than the original lineup. Having a greater variety of food that goes beyond traditional cruise food and leans into regional options is such a welcome choice.

Star of the Seas is here and you're probably wondering what's different about this ship compared to Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's second Icon Class ship is days away from welcoming aboard its first paying passengers, and the ship has lofty expectations from both them and the cruise line itself.

I'm lucky enough to be invited by Royal Caribbean to come get a first look at Star of the Seas before she begins sailing, and I've kept a careful eye out for what's new or different.

Here's a list of the changes you'll find on Star of the Seas that I've found so far.

All new shows

You can always count on Royal Caribbean to never be content with its entertainment lineup.

Star of the Seas has new shows in each of its three theaters.

By far the headliner show is Back to the Future: The Musical, which is the full Broadway production and included on this ship.

There's also a new high-diving spectacle in the Aquatheater, as well as a new show in Absolute Zero.

I always recommend everyone check out the new shows when they go on a ship, because each show is impressive in its own right.

Kaleidoscopes

Hidden around the ship are what look like whimsical telescopes.

The idea is similar to the Small Wonders on Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas.

So far I've found two, one on the Royal Promenade and the other in Surfside, and each has a different design when you peer through them.

Robot vacuums

A really neat idea is there are a few robot vacuum cleaners on Star of the Seas.

There are two types, with Bob responsible for hard surfaces and Betsy taking up carpets.

I'm used to seeing robots in supermarkets and BJ's stores, but it's fun that Royal Caribbean is getting in on the trend.

I suspect these robots can help augment the hard work crew members do in cleaning up, especially after hours.

New hot tub

Royal Caribbean was able to add a new hot tub on Star of the Seas, near the entrance to Aquadome Market.

The hot tub was originally intended to be on Icon, but the company was concerned about water weight. As it turned out, it wasn't a problem, so they added it to Star of the Seas.

Another pool deck change you'll notice are the bungee chairs on Deck 15 across from Royal Bay pool have been removed.

Instead, there are regular loungers on there.  Some crew members told me those bungee chairs on Icon had too many kids climbing and jumping on them, which likely lead to this change.

Lincoln Park Supper Club

The only new dining spot on Star of the Seas is the Lincoln Park Supper Club.

The supper club on Icon of the Seas was New York based, but this one is going to be Chicago based.

Royal Caribbean found inspiration from Chicago hot spots, from the Chez Paree club to the famed dining spot, The Pump Room.

Dining here will cost you $200 per person, and you'll get a pairing of live jazz music with the food. Each course has a paired cocktail and dish that matches up perfectly with the music.

Meet Sailor

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention there's a new Chief Dog Officer on Star of the Seas.

Sailor is the Golden Retriever that lives on the ship as the family dog.

You can meet Sailor if you're lucky enough to be in the right spot when she walks by for a belly rub.  Usually I've seen her near the Overlook, in Surfside, or even on the Royal Promenade.

Royal Caribbean got a lot of attention when it put a dog on Icon of the Seas, and it's such a lovely idea.

A more colorful Pearl

The Pearl has been upgraded visually.

Instead of a single color light ring in the back of each of those 3500 plus tiles, this version has full multicolor rings.

This allows arguably the top photo spot on the ship to have a much richer color palate.

New bar menus

I've noticed a few menus have gotten updates to at the least the look of them, and a few new cocktails too.

The fleetwide menu has been updated with new drinks and a new look.

Every few years the bar menu changes, and this is the bar menu you'll find in places like Casino Bar, The Overlook, and other bars without a specialized menu.

In the Pub, there's a new menu and each table as a ring toss game to help you pass the time.

I believe the Yuzu the One and Love Story are two new drinks on this menu.

Over at the Lime and Coconut, there's been a change to the lineup to offer more non-alcoholic drinks too.

There are are series of frozen drink machines, and two of them are now non-alcoholic.

In addition, a dedicated painkiller frozen drink dispenser has been added.

The tequila lineup as been improved at El Loco Fresh's Cantina.

You'll find a new Teqkil-ya Zombie drink, as well as higher quality tequilas to choose from.

Upgraded water fun in Surfside

Royal Caribbean said they wanted the kids only neighborhood on Star of the Seas to lean a bit more mature to appeal to slightly older kids.

The changes are subtle, but I think the 7-10 year olds may find more to enjoy in Surfside compared to Icon of the Seas.

Specifically, Splashaway Bay and Playscape received new features and more play activations to appeal to older kids.

In addition, the Water's Edge pool is dropping the idea it could be a haven for parents too, and instead is enhanced to be more kid-friendly. 

This change was done because in reality, kids took this pool over on Icon.

New art

You can also count on any new cruise ship for there to be new art all over the ship.

Royal Caribbean is proud of its artwork, and you'll find lots of it to catch your eye in every hallway, public venue, and bar.

I think the art in the elevator lobbies and on the Royal Promenade might be among the most noticeable, because they're so large.

Changes that I can't tell if they really did change

There are some changes that at one point were supposed to change, but perhaps it's being held back for a future ship.

Pier 7 remains in place. Right after Icon's launch, executives talked about it would be something else on Star.

Personally, I always liked eating at Pier 7 because it offers food you don't usually find elsewhere on the ship.  

There is much more outdoor seating too.

Something else that doesn't appear to have made it to Star are the first facial recognition cabins.

It's my understanding there aren't any cabins yet with that feature.  

Royal Caribbean is ready to double the fun with Star of the Seas.

The brand new ship is Royal Caribbean's newest mega-ship, bringing the total number of operational vessels in Royal Caribbean's fleet to 29.

It's the hotly anticipated follow-up to Icon of the Seas, which launched last year and instantly became a mega hit for the cruise line. Icon wasn't just exciting, it set a new standard for every other cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean invited me to come on a short 3-night sailing to see the new ship and what it's all about.  They flew me to Puerto Rico to meet the ship, and be among the first to get onboard.

In just a couple of hours on Star, I wanted to share a glimpse of what this new ship is like and why you'd want to try it too.

Doubling what Icon did best

It's clear Royal Caribbean didn't want to mess too much with the winning formula that made Icon of the Seas such a success.

Star of the Seas began construction right around the same time as Icon, so their layout and look are very similar.

The difference is in the details, and I quickly picked up on the fact that Star is everything I loved about Icon.

Overall, Star is similar to Icon of the Seas in terms of onboard amenities and size. As such, guests can expect the same record-breaking Category 6 Waterpark, indoor AquaTheater, Crown's Edge ropes course/over-the-water zip line, massive Absolute Zero ice skating rink, and adults-only Hideaway.

It's a bright and colorful ship that is meant to evoke a party atmosphere.  You won't find the words "subdued" or "subtle" on this cruise ship.

Star of the Seas relies on the formula of open spaces, a connection to the water, and great things to do that are certain to make memories.

I loved how beautiful the pool deck is, and how the layout provides so much space for chairs, shade, pools, and bars.

Having an entire waterpark onboard means the ship has more thrills than any other, and that's in addition to the surf simulator, Crown's Edge, or sports area.

My favorite area of the ship remains Central Park because of how beautiful this space is, with so much packed in.

In walking around Central Park, I noticed a lot of new artwork and beautiful designs.  Plus, the Trellis Bar, Izumi sushi window, Bubbles, and Lou's are the perfect nighttime spot for a snack, drink, or both.

Over in Surfside, there's an entire area for kids.

Royal Caribbean says this version should skew to appeal to slightly older kids, but I'll need to wait for more kids to be onboard to truly see how it works.

You'll find tweaks, replacements and a few surprises on Star of the Seas

There are subtle differences that give Star of the Seas a defining personality of her own. 

For example, the Broadway-style show on Icon is the Wizard of Oz, whereas on Star of the Seas, it's Back to the Future: the Musical. 

Moreover, Royal Caribbean made changes to the AquaDome Marketplace food stalls. Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita will effectively replace GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden. 

The supper club also received a refresh. Instead of honoring New York City, the new Lincoln Park Supper Club reflects the spirit of Chicago.

I was surprised when I turned a corner and ran into a group of housekeeping robots, which are a first for the cruise line.

The two types of robots can clean the floors and carpets constantly.  Bob is for the hard surfaces, while Betsy takes care of carpeting.

I found them in the Overlook, but unsure yet how wide spread they will be.

I also noticed what looks like telescopes around the ship in various public areas.

Similar to the Small Wonders feature on Oasis and Allure of the Seas, each one has a different kaleidoscope design to it.

It's a fun sea day activity to try to find them all.

Also noteworthy to cruise fans are the new name tags.

Crew members have a different name tag design compared to any other ship.  I'm not sure if the new design will go fleetwide, or remain an Icon Class look.

The first Star of the Seas cruises begin in August

Measuring over 248,000 gross registered tons, Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, tied only with Icon of the Seas. Star comes in at 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide. At double occupancy, Star of the Seas can accommodate 5,610 guests in 2,805 staterooms. However, at maximum capacity, she can carry over 7,000 passengers. She also has 2,350 crew onboard from countries all over the world. 

Star's maiden voyage is scheduled for August 31, 2025, but construction moved quicker than expected. As such, Star will embark on a series of short preview cruises ahead of the official maiden voyage. The first of these will take place from August 16-20, 2025. It is ironic because when Star of the Seas' bookings were initially released, the maiden voyage was scheduled for August 17. It was later pushed back due to shipyard delays.

Star of the Seas' 7-night maiden voyage on August 31 will cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.

Unlike Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas' homeport is Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. Orlando is one of the top vacation markets in the world, so Royal Caribbean's decision to homeport Star at Port Canaveral makes sense. The location offers travelers easy access to the area's famous theme parks and attractions. Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's first-ever purpose-built ship for the short cruise market, also calls Port Canaveral home.

Cruises on Star of the Seas are available to book through April 2027. There are even a few last-minute cabins on the special showcase cruises. At the time of publication, an interior stateroom on the 4-night Aug. 16 sailing starts at $1,029 per person. The cheapest cruise on Star of the Seas is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2025. The 7-night cruise starts at $1,153 per person in an inside cabin.

All but one sailing is scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island in The Bahamas. The itinerary for the May 3, 2026, cruise is Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Labadee, Haiti. 

Royal Caribbean's new Star of the Seas is almost ready to welcome passengers onboard, and I can't wait to see it myself.

The first official cruise departs Port Canaveral on August 16, followed by a series of short showcase sailings leading up to the official maiden voyage on August 31st.

Star of the Seas is the second Icon Class ship, and it's Royal Caribbean's follow-up to the mega hit that has been Icon of the Seas.

A new ship launch is always exciting, but the sequel to a truly game-changing ship is going to be something not to miss.

When I embark Star of the Seas and start exploring, I've already come up with a six things I'll be looking for to see how this ship stands out from her big sister.

Lincoln Park Supper Club

Royal Caribbean exceeded my expectations when it opened its first supper club on Icon of the Seas, so I can't wait to see its follow-up.

The supper club on Icon had a New York theme, and the one on Star of the Seas will have a Chicago theme to it.

If you haven't tried the Empire Supper Club yet, it's a fine dining experience that combines food, cocktails, and live music. Trust me, it's an experience you don't find on cruise ships.

Each course matches what you're eating and drinking to the music played, and I liked it much more than I expected when I tried it on Icon.

In fact, I went back for a second time because I liked it so much.

I also really like the fact it has a strict dress code, so everyone going in to dine has an elevated look.  Sometimes, it's fun to dress up and look fancy.

I booked a seating on Star so I can check it out for myself and see how this version measures up to the original.

New Aquadome Market

Another follow-up restaurant hit is the complimentary food hall on Star of the Seas.

When Royal Caribbean announced it would open its first food hall, I was sold immediately.  Freshly prepared food that leaned into various regional offerings in a quick service manner sounded like the perfect idea.

Sure enough, Aquadome Market quickly became my favorite restaurant, and it sounds like the version on Star of the Seas could be even better.

Royal Caribbean is keeping a few of the food halls from Icon, but swapping out some others.

• NEW: Pig Out BBQ: Serves smoky pulled pork and beef brisket
• NEW: Mai Thai: Specializes in Southeast Asian favorites like pad Thai and beef panang
• NEW: La Cocinita: Offers South American staples such as empanadas and arepas
• Crème de la Crêpe: Serves sweet and savory French crêpes
• Feta Mediterranean: Features fresh pitas and bowls with Mediterranean flavors

Not only did they add three new halls, but they kept the two best ones from Icon.

Part of the reason I like Aquadome Market so much is it's included in your cruise fare, conveniently located near the pool deck, and it's open late.

You can bet I'll be headed to Aquadome Market on embarkation day for lunch.

Back to the Future: The Musical

I was really surprised when Royal Caribbean confirmed they'd have a full Broadway musical on Star of the Seas, especially a brand new show.

It has been a number of years since Royal Caribbean added a Broadway show to one of its ships and I feared they might have moved past that trend.

So when Back to the Future: The Musical was revealed as the show for Star, I was really excited. Not only was it a new show, but a crowd pleasing musical that even casual theater fans could appreciate.

I don't need to recap what this musical is about because I think everyone has seen the film, but it should be a real hit with guests.

The Wizard of Oz is performed on Icon of the Seas, and I think that quickly impressed a lot of people.  So now with a show that has even more pizzazz, I think it's going to be a hot ticket.

Crowd management

If there's one thing Royal Caribbean really got right with Icon of the Seas, it's the crowd flow.  So I'm hoping it's just as good (if not better) on Star of the Seas.

One of the early takeaways on Icon was that it felt so much less crowded than the Oasis Class ships.

Initially I thought this might have been a fluke on my sailing, but I've been on Icon a few more times and it's incredible a ship that can handle up to 7,000 passengers can feel as uncrowded as it does.

When the ship feels uncrowded, I think it makes a significant difference in how passengers enjoy the experience overall.  It feels less contentious and almost liberating because you're more at ease with everything.

I'm going to pay special attention to a few areas, such as the Royal Promenade and it's improved Pearl.  I also want to see how the change to adults-only at Swim & Tonic impacts the venue, as well as the entire pool deck vibe.

Aquadome show

If there's one must-see on any Royal Caribbean ship, it's their aqua show.

I don't care which ship it is, I'll always make a point to go to the Aquatheater to see the show because it's such a crowd pleaser.

Royal Caribbean has a new show for Star of the Seas, called Torque.

A revved-up aqua show featuring athletic artists, synchronized swimmers, dancers and slackliners for an action-packed show of thrilling stunts, cutting-edge tech and immersive visuals.

When it comes to the aqua shows, it's about taking in the spectacle of talented performers that dance, dive, and balance better than anyone I've ever seen.  Often, it's to some really good music too.

I got chills when I saw the Darth Vader scene in the aqua show on Icon of the Seas, so I can't wait to see how they top that on Star.

What changes (if any) to the cabin

I pay particular attention to my cabin on any cruise ship I sail on, because it's where the most tweaks tend to happen.

With Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas built right around the same time, I'm not certain how much of a difference there will be in the cabin. However, I've noted cabins get updates more easily than public areas.

Whether it's additional storage, new connectivity options, or even just an improvement to the shower, I'm curious to see what Royal Caribbean has lined up for the staterooms on Star.

Star of the Seas begins sailing in August 2025

Beginning with the August 31 sailing, Star of the Seas will sail 7-night cruises to the Caribbean from her homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Every sailing includes a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

You can book a cruise on Star through early 2027, and there are even a few last-minute rooms left on the early showcase sailings.

Star of the Seas is on her way to start cruises!

Royal Caribbean's newest ship departed the Meyer Turku shipyard on Thursday evening, headed towards its home port, Port Canaveral. 

Before that, she’ll make a stop in Cádiz, Spain.

It's a major accomplishment for the cruise line to have its next Icon Class ship join the fleet, and everything looks to be on time.

Royal Caribbean spent a full year gathering feedback from guests that sailed on Icon of the Seas, focus groups, and family travelers to understand what worked, and what could be improved. 

Here's what you can expect on Star of the Seas.

Largest water park at sea

One of the best features on Icon of the Seas was the inclusion of an entire water park with Category 6.

You'll find this also on Star of the Seas, complete with:

• Two high-speed family raft slides
• A drop box free-fall slide
• Two mat racers
• And twisting body slides for solo riders

The cruise line thinks it has the boldest waterpark at sea, but will continue to tweak and refine it based on guest preferences. 

More social Surfside

Icon of the Seas debuted the first area of the ship designed just for kids, but they learned something important in the process.

Surfside neighborhood is designed specifically for young families but it skewed toward kids around 10 years old. On Star of the Seas, the cruise line made several improvements:

• The Playscape now offers more physical challenges to keep kids engaged

• Splashaway Bay features new interactive water elements and toys

• Adventure Ocean has been reimagined to focus on natural, tech-free play, helping kids and teens connect more easily in person

• New spaces for more social, less tech-based play

The hope is these upgrades will match up better with how families actually travel and interact.

A New Supper Club Concept: Lincoln Park

Royal Caribbean's first supper club, Empire Supper Club, was a big hit. On Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is introducing an entirely new concept: the Lincoln Park Supper Club, themed after Chicago’s iconic jazz scene.

This version brings:

• A brand-new menu

• All-new live music programming

• The same intimate, elevated feel that made Empire a hit

Bolder and brighter Pearl

The Pearl welcomes passengers as they walk onboard, and it's a big part of the arrival moment.

On Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on its visual impact by adding more color, lighting, and movement, making that “wow” moment when guests first board even more memorable.

They didn't mess with what works

You'll also find the other neighborhoods that worked well on Icon of the Seas.

• AquaDome, the massive glass-covered venue with live shows and ocean views
• Chill Island, a multi-pool retreat zone perfect for relaxing
• Thrill Island, the upper deck adventure zone packed with water slides and thrills
• The Hideaway, the suspended infinity pool retreat for adults

At its core, Royal Caribbean thinks it has the winning formula to take what was already a major success with Icon of the Seas and make it even better with Star.

"The Icon Class delivered the world’s best family vacation—but we want to do that tomorrow. We want to do that next week. We want to make sure that what people see on day one is nothing but an amazing home run," Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development for Royal Caribbean, said in a video interview.

Taking the feedback they've gotten from passengers, it seems Royal Caribbean is ready to deliver an even more impressive ship with Star of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's newest mega-ship has officially joined the fleet. 

Star of the Seas, the second-ever Icon Class vessel, was delivered to Royal Caribbean today at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. 

Measuring over 1,190 feet long with a passenger capacity of 7,600 at maximum occupancy, Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Royal Caribbean executives, including Michael Bayley and Jason Liberty, took delivery of the ship at a special ceremony at the shipyard.

"The completion of Star of the Seas is another significant step in Royal Caribbean Group’s journey toward a completely new type of vacation experience," said Jason Liberty, C.E.O. of Royal Caribbean Group. "We are proud to bring this new generation vacation experience to life at Meyer Turku shipyard together with our esteemed partners."

Star of the Seas will leave the shipyard in mid-July en route to her new home: Port Canaveral, Florida. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean's new big cruise ship will take its maiden voyage later this year. Here’s what awaits guests

Royal Caribbean's 29th ship joins the fleet

The delivery marks a major milestone for Royal Caribbean, as it continues to expand its fleet with record-breaking vessels. 

Star of the Seas' sister ship, Icon of the Seas, debuted in January 2024. The long-awaited Icon Class ship redefined the cruise experience with a record-breaking waterpark, new onboard restaurants, an enclosed AquaTheater, over-water ropes course/zipline, and more. 

Although Icon and Star of the Seas are more similar than not, there are a few key differences that help give Star a defining personality of her own. 

First, Royal Caribbean is raising the entertainment bar even higher with its new theater production, Back to the Future: The Musical, which will have the largest orchestra at sea. Not only that, but there are also new shows in the ice skating rink and AquaTheater. 

The AquaDome Marketplace is getting a refresh, too. Instead of GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden, guests will find Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita. The new venues will focus on dishing up fresh barbecue, tasty Southeast Asian favorites, and Latin American street food.

Similarly, the Lincoln Park Supper Club is replacing the Empire Supper Club. The $200-per-person specialty restaurant will feature a Chicago-inspired theme with the cocktails, menu, and music reimagined to reflect the spirit of the Windy City. 

Read more: 9 big changes coming to Royal Caribbean's new mega-ship

One of the more exciting features is Royal Caribbean's pilot program for facial recognition cabins. While they won't be available throughout the entire ship, these innovative cabins use advanced technology to allow guests to unlock their stateroom doors with their face — no SeaPass or WOW Band needed. 

They're also making the Surfside neighborhood better by appealing to older and younger children. As such, guests can expect new features added to the Playscape and Splashaway Bay aqua park. The Water's Edge pool will also be enhanced to better suit kids. 

Speaking of water, one of the earliest changes announced for Star of the Seas was the addition of an extra hot tub. Initally planned for Icon, it was removed over weight concerns. 

Star of the Seas size

Gross tonnage: 248,663

Length: 1,196 feet

Passenger capacity (full occupancy): 7,600

Crew: 2,350

Staterooms: 2,806

Flag state: Bahamas

Godmother: Diana Ross

Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Eastern and Western Caribbean

Star of the Seas' inaugural voyage is scheduled for next month. The first sailing for paying guests is August 16, 2025. Following a few shorter cruises, Star will begin offering weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Port Canaveral beginning on August 31. 

According to Meyer Turku, construction on the next Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, is going well. Later this summer, the vessel will be moved from the construction dock to the outfitting dock. Legend will join Royal Caribbean's fleet in 2026.